Machine for fitting and removing tyres and wheel rims for vehicles

ABSTRACT

The machine for removing and fitting tyres and wheel rims for vehicles comprises a supporting structure of clamping and rotating device for clamping and rotating the rim of a vehicle wheel around a rotation axis, at least one operating unit which is associated moving with the supporting structure and which comprises at least one operating head for fitting and removing a tyre onto/from the rim provided with a pushing body for pushing at least one portion of the side surface of the tyre and with a grip tool for gripping at least one section of the tyre bead, an actuator element for operating the sideways movement of the operating head with respect to the structure and guide means of such sideways movement along a substantially curvilinear direction between a first configuration, in which the operating head is substantially close to the clamping and rotating device and a second configuration, in which the operating head is substantially moved away from the clamping and rotating device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a machine for fitting and removing tyres and wheel rims for vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known the vehicle wheels generally comprise a metal rim having along the perimeter ring-shaped turn-ups between which the end portions, so-called “beads” of an elastic tyre, are inserted fast up and adherent.

The use is currently known of so-called “tyre changing” machines for removing and fitting tyres from and onto their relevant rims for carrying out, for example, inner tube maintenance, repair or replacement jobs.

Such “tyre changing” machines can be, for example, of the automatic type and are essentially composed of a supporting frame for a clamping and rotating device for clamping and rotating the rim of a wheel onto/from which the tyre must be fitted/removed and of an operating unit having an operating head for fitting and removing the tyre.

Such operating head is, generally, equipped with a tool for fitting the tyre on the rim and with a tool for removing the tyre.

The removing tool, in particular, is arranged with substantially transversal direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the operating head and has a curved end part which is turned towards the wheel to be removed during the course of the job.

The removing tool is, generally, supported by the operating head and can be turned around a fixed axis between a configuration for pushing a side of the tyre and for clamping the corresponding bead and a configuration for entraining the tyre in a direction away from the relevant rim.

During use, the end part of this tool is brought up against a side of the tyre and pressed against this so as to move the tyre bead away from the relevant turn-up, so as to allow the tool to fasten onto the edge of the tyre for subsequent moving away from the rim.

These tyre changing machines have a number of drawbacks, among which the not always perfect grip of the tool for the removal on the bead, with the risk of the tool jamming between the tyre and the rim. In this case, the tool must be necessarily freed manually by an operator.

To overcome this problem, the use is known of tyre changing machines in which the operating head comprises a pushing body with a contact surface positionable against the side of a tyre and a tool for the removal of the tyre which is moving between a position in which it is housed inside the pushing body and a position in which it protrudes from the body to grip the tyre bead.

During use, the operating head is brought close to the tyre to be removed by means of a first actuator which operates horizontally, so that the contact surface of the pushing body comes up against the side of the tyre, moving it from the rim and creating a passage for the tool.

The tool is then moved outside the pushing body and fitted between the tyre and the rim to grip the tyre bead.

Afterwards, the operating head is moved away from the rim by the combined action of the first actuator and of a second actuator that operates vertically, so as to drag the tyre outside the rim.

These known machines are however susceptible to upgrading, especially in order to ensure a correct and easy removal of the tyre while providing, at the same time, more simple structure and function. The need to control and combine several actuators during the removal stage in fact calls for the presence of a computer suitable for coordinating operations, with consequent increase in the overall complexity of the machine.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The main aim of the present invention is to provide a machine for fitting and removing tyres and wheel rims for vehicles that allows achieving the above upgrading.

Within the scope of such technical aim, another object of the present invention is to cater for the above aims with a simple structure, of relatively practical implementation, safe to use and with effective operation, as well as having a relatively low cost.

The above-described objects are all achieved by the present machine for removing and fitting tyres and wheel rims for vehicles comprising a supporting structure of a clamping and rotating device for clamping and rotating the rim of a vehicle wheel around a rotation axis, at least one operating unit which is associated moving with said supporting structure and which comprises at least one operating head for fitting and removing a tyre onto/from said rim provided with a pushing body for pushing at least one portion of the side surface of said tyre and with a grip tool for gripping at least one section of the bead of said tyre, wherein the machine comprises an actuator element for operating the sideways movement of said operating head with respect to said structure and guide means of said sideways movement along a substantially curvilinear direction between a first configuration, in which said operating head is substantially close to said clamping and rotating device and a second configuration, in which said operating head is substantially moved away from said clamping and rotating device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear even more evident from the detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a machine for fitting and removing tyres and wheel rims for vehicles, illustrated indicatively by way of non limiting example, in the attached drawings wherein:

the FIG. 1 is a side view of the machine according to the invention;

the FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are side views of a detail of the machine according to the invention that illustrate three distinct phases of the process of tyre removal from a vehicle wheel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

With particular reference to such figures, a machine for fitting and removing tyres and wheel rims for vehicles has been globally indicated by 1.

The machine 1 comprises a supporting structure 2 for supporting a clamping and rotating device 3 for clamping and rotating a rim A onto/from which to fit/remove a tyre B around a substantially horizontal rotation axis C.

An operating unit 4 is supported moving by the structure 2 and is provided with an operating head 5 for fitting and/or removing the tyre B onto/from the rim A.

In particular, the structure 2 comprises a base 2 a from which elevate a first and a second upright 2 b and 2 c distanced from each other and supporting a transom 2 d arranged above the clamping and rotating device 3 and to which the operating unit 4 is associated moving. The clamping and rotating device 3 is associated with the first upright 2 b and are sliding along it driven by a height adjustment device, of the type of a motor device, an actuator by fluid means or the like.

Alternatively, the machine 1 can have a structure 2 otherwise structured and/or the arrangement of the rotation axis C substantially vertical or tilted.

The adjustment of the height of the clamping and rotating device 3 permits the correct positioning of the operating head 5 before the fitting/removal stage and according to the specific dimensions of the wheel and of the relative tyre B.

Advantageously, the machine 1 comprises an actuator element 6 for moving the operating head 5 with sideways movement with respect to the structure 2 and guide means of such sideways movement along a substantially curvilinear direction between a first configuration, in which the operating head 5 is substantially moved close to the clamping and rotating device 3 and a second configuration, in which the operating head 5 is substantially moved away from the clamping and rotating device 3.

In particular, the operating unit 4 comprises a supporting slide 7 supporting the operating head 5, associated with the structure 2 and moving along the above curvilinear direction. In particular, the slide 7 is associated with the transom 2 d by interposition of a carriage 8 associated moving by means of a motor device along the transom 2 d.

The guide means comprise a plurality of curvilinear slots 9 defined on a substantially vertical side wall 7 a of the slide 7 and inside which corresponding pins 10 secured on a side wall of the carriage 8 are engaged sliding.

Usefully, each of the curvilinear slots 9 describes a circle arc with the convexity turned towards the clamping and rotating device 3.

A different number, arrangement and/or conformation of the curvilinear slots 9 and of the respective pins 10 cannot however be ruled out.

The actuator element 6 is composed of a first linear actuator of the type, for example, of an actuator by fluid means, which has one end hinged to the carriage 8 and the opposite end hinged to the slide 7. The straight alternate movement of the first actuator 6 permits the movement of the slide 7 between the first and the second configuration with relative sliding of the pins 10 inside the curvilinear slots 9.

In particular, the first actuator 6 is arranged substantially sloping with respect to the rotation axis C and has an end hinged to a fin 8 a that extends at the top from the carriage 8 and the opposite end hinged to a bridge 7 b defined on the slide 7 and substantially parallel to the wall 7 a.

Advantageously, the guide means comprise a pair of connecting rods 11 distanced from one another, placed in between the carriage 8 and the slide 7 and suitable for supporting the slide 7 during the sideways movement.

The operating head 5 has a pushing body 12 with a substantially tubular shape that is arranged vertical above the clamping and rotating device 3 and which has a contact surface 13 positionable in contact with a portion of the side surface of the tyre B during the removal stage (FIG. 2).

In particular, the contact surface 13 is defined at the lower open end of the pushing body 12 and is shaped substantially protruding towards the tyre B.

The operating head 5 also comprises a grip tool 14 of at least one section of the bead of the tyre B which is alternately moving between an idle configuration in which it is fully housed inside the pushing body 12, at its lower end (FIG. 2), an intermediate fitting configuration in which it is at least partially protruding from the pushing body 12 through the lower opening 12 a (FIG. 3), and an entrainment configuration of the tyre B in which it is protruding from the pushing body 12 and substantially sloped towards the contact surface 13.

The operating unit 4 has a movement device 15 for moving the grip tool 14 between the above-mentioned idle and fitting configurations; the movement device 15 comprise a linear second actuator 16 of the type, for example, of an actuator by fluid means arranged above the pushing body 12.

The movement device 15 also comprise a drive element 17 made up of a rod 18 fitted axially sliding inside the pushing body 12 through an upper opening 12 b. The rod 18 is associated at one end with the second actuator 16 and is equipped at the opposite end with a small cylinder 19 sliding to measure inside the pushing body 12, close to the lower opening 12 a.

The grip tool 14 has one end hinged to the small cylinder 19 and a small connecting rod 20 is placed in between one substantially median portion of the grip tool 14 and the pushing body 12, inside this.

The small connecting rod 20 is suitably sized and shaped to guide the tool, together with the small cylinder 19 piloted by the second actuator 16, in a combined rotary-sideways movement between the idle configuration and the intermediate fitting configuration.

Usefully, the grip tool 14 has a substantially elongated shape and has the free end provided with a substantially hooked end section suitable for locating itself on the inner surface of the bead of the tyre B to entrain the bead itself during the removal stage.

Advantageously, the machine 1 comprises drive means 21 for conveying the sideways movement of the slide 7 to the grip tool 14: such drive means 21 are suitable for moving the grip tool 14 between the intermediate fitting configuration and the entrainment configuration in a synchronous way with respect to the sideways movement of the slide 7.

In particular, the drive means 21 are made up of a system of levers associated with the carriage 8 and with the slide 7 and suitable for supporting the second actuator 16 and moving this along a substantially vertical direction.

The system of levers 21 comprises a first lever 22 that has an end hinged to an appendix 7 c of the slide 7 protruding vertically and upwards and the opposite end hinged to a second lever 23.

The first lever 22 is arranged substantially horizontally and supports the second actuator 16 near the upper end of the pushing body 12.

In particular, the second actuator 16 is hinged at a substantially median section of the first lever 22 and is moving through the action of the first lever 22 along a substantially vertical direction moving closer and away with respect to the pushing body 12, at the upper opening 12 b.

The second lever 23 has the end opposite the first lever 22 hinged to a third lever 24.

The third lever 24 has the end opposite the second lever 23 hinged to the carriage 8 and is hinged at a substantially median section of the slide 7.

Advantageously, one of the small connecting rods 11 can coincide with the section of the third lever 24 placed in between the carriage 8 and the slide 7.

The first, the second and the third levers 22, 23 and 24 are suitably sized and shaped to allow, in the transit between the first and the second configuration of the operating head 5, the moving of the second actuator 16 close to the pushing body 12, with consequent sliding of the drive element 17 towards the lower opening 12 a and further movement of the grip tool 14 from the intermediate fitting configuration to the entrainment configuration.

Usefully, the operating head 5 has a supporting tool 25 for supporting the tyre B, suitable for intervening during the removal stage to entrain the tyre B away from the rim A and, during the fitting stage, to position it on the rim A. The supporting tool 25 is made of a plate which is associated integral at the lower end of the pushing body 12 and is arranged overhanging on the opposite side with respect to the contact surface 13.

The operation of the invention is the following.

With particular reference to the removal stage, the operator positions the wheel on the clamping and rotating device 3 and regulates the height according to the dimensional and constructive characteristics of the rim A.

The operating unit 4 is initially positioned with the operating head 5 in first configuration, detached from the tyre B and with the grip tool 14 in idle configuration.

Subsequently, the operating head 5 is suitably positioned, by sliding the carriage 8 on the transom 2 d, so the contact surface 13 enters into contact with the side of the tyre B moving it from the rim A and creating a passage for the grip tool 14 (FIG. 2).

The operation of the second actuator 16 takes the grip tool 14 into the intermediate fitting configuration: the grip tool 14 fits in between the tyre B and the rim A and with the free hooked end grips the bead of the tyre B internally (FIG. 3).

Subsequently, always by means of the operation of the first actuator 6, the operating head 5 is moved sideways from the first configuration towards the second configuration. The relative sliding of the pins 10 inside the curvilinear slots 9 allows guiding the sideways movement of the operating unit 14, and therefore of the operating head 5, along a substantially curvilinear direction, permitting first of all the simultaneous lifting and moving away from the rim A of the bead of the tyre B gripped by the grip tool 14, then the simultaneous lowering and moving away of the bead from the rim A as far as the second configuration.

During such sideways movement, the system of levers 21 conveys the movement of the slide 7 to the second actuator 16, which gradually moves closer to the upper opening 12 b of the pushing body 12, further moving the drive element 17 towards the lower opening 12 a and moving the grip tool 14 from the intermediate fitting configuration towards the entrainment configuration. This movement of the grip tool 14 permits maintaining a perfect grip on the bead of the tyre B during the downward phase of the sideways movement of the operating head 5.

With the rotation of the rim A, operated by the clamping and rotating device 3, the tyre B is completely taken off for subsequent detachment.

During the fitting stage, on the other hand, the tyre B is raised near to the rim A already fixed to the clamping and rotating device 3 and the relative beads are housed on the rim A by means of the operation of the supporting tool 25.

It has in fact been ascertained how the described invention achieves the proposed objects and in particular the fact is underlined that the presence of just one actuator suitable for moving the operating head allows considerably simplifying the structure and the configuration phases of the machine.

Furthermore, the curvilinear sideways movement of the operating head, together with the movement of the grip tool between the intermediate fitting configuration and the entrainment configuration, permits moving the tyre bead away from the rim and reducing to the utmost the stresses that could damage the tyre itself.

A further advantage is provided by the presence of the system of levers which permits the movement of the tool in a synchronous way with respect to the sideways movement of the operating head, avoiding at the same time the use of supplementary actuators.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which falling within the scope of the inventive concept.

Furthermore all the details may be replaced by other elements which are technically equivalent.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements without because of this moving outside the protection scope of the following claims. 

1) Machine for removing and fitting tyres and wheel rims for vehicles comprising a supporting structure of clamping and rotating device for clamping and rotating the rim of a vehicle wheel around a rotation axis, at least one operating unit which is associated moving with said supporting structure and which comprises at least one operating head for fitting and removing a tyre onto/from said rim provided with a pushing body for pushing at least one portion of the side surface of said tyre and with a grip tool for gripping at least one section of the bead of said tyre, wherein the machine comprises an actuator element for operating the sideways movement of said operating head with respect to said structure and guide means of said sideways movement along a substantially curvilinear direction between a first configuration, in which said operating head is substantially close to said clamping and rotating device and a second configuration, in which said operating head is substantially moved away from said clamping and rotating device. 2) Machine according to claim 1, wherein said pushing body comprises at least one contact surface positionable against said portion of side surface of the tyre and said grip tool is moving between an idle configuration in which it is at least partially housed inside said pushing body, an intermediate fitting configuration in which it is at least partially protruding from said pushing body, and an entrainment configuration in which it is protruding from said pushing body and is substantially sloped towards said contact surface for the entrainment of said tyre. 3) Machine according to claim 1, wherein said operating unit comprises a supporting slide of said operating head, associated with said supporting structure moving along said above curvilinear direction. 4) Machine according to claim 3, wherein said operating unit comprises at least one supporting carriage of said slide associated moving with said structure. 5) Machine according to claim 4, wherein said guide means comprise at least one curvilinear slot defined on at least one between said slide and said carriage, inside which at least one corresponding pin associated with the other between said slide and said carriage is engaged sliding. 6) Machine according to claim 5, wherein said curvilinear slot has the convexity turned towards said clamping and rotating device. 7) Machine according to claim 5, wherein said curvilinear slot is defined on at least one substantially vertical wall of said slide. 8) Machine according to claim 4, wherein said carriage is associated moving along a transom of said structure arranged above said clamping and rotating device. 9) Machine according to claim 5, wherein said guide means comprise a plurality of said curvilinear slots and of corresponding pins. 10) Machine according to claim 4, wherein said guide means comprise at least one connecting rod placed in between said carriage and said slide. 11) Machine according to claim 4, wherein said actuator element is placed in between said carriage and said slide. 12) Machine according to claim 1, wherein said actuator element is composed of a first actuator of the linear type. 13) Machine according to claim 1, wherein said pushing body is substantially tubular. 14) Machine according to claim 1, wherein said pushing body is arranged substantially transversal with respect to said rotation axis. 15) Machine according to claim 2, comprising movement device of said grip tool between said idle configuration and said intermediate fitting configuration. 16) Machine according to claim 15, wherein said movement device comprise at least a linear second actuator. 17) Machine according to claim 16, wherein said movement device comprise a drive element with a substantially elongated shape that is associated with said second actuator and that is arranged sliding inside said pushing body. 18) Machine according to claim 17, wherein said grip tool has an end hinged to said drive element. 19) Machine according to claim 15, wherein said movement device comprise a small connecting rod that has one end hinged along a substantially median portion of said grip tool and the opposite end hinged to said pushing body. 20) Machine according to claim 2, comprising drive means for conveying the sideways movement of said operating head to said grip tool and suitable for moving said grip tool between said intermediate fitting configuration and said entrainment configuration. 21) Machine according to claim 20, wherein said drive means comprise at least one system of levers. 22) Machine according to claim 21, wherein said system of levers comprises a first lever which has one end hinged to a second lever and the opposite end hinged to a supporting slide of said operating head, associated with said supporting structure moving along said above curvilinear direction. 23) Machine according to claim 22, wherein said first lever supports a linear second actuator of a movement device of said grip tool between said idle configuration and said intermediate fitting configuration. 24) Machine according to claim 22, wherein said first lever is arranged substantially parallel to said rotation axis. 25) Machine according to claim 22, wherein said second lever has the end opposite said first lever hinged to a third lever. 26) Machine according to claim 25, wherein said third lever has the end opposite said second lever hinged to a supporting carriage of said slide associated moving with said structure, and is hinged to said slide along a substantially median section. 27) Machine according to claim 26, wherein the section of said third lever placed in between said carriage and said slide coincide with a connecting rod placed in between said carriage and said slide. 28) Machine according to claim 2, wherein said contact surface is shaped substantially protruding towards said clamping and rotating device. 29) Machine according to claim 2, wherein said grip tool is fully housed inside said pushing body in said idle configuration. 30) Machine according to claim 2, wherein said grip tool has a substantially elongated shape and has the free end provided with a substantially hooked end section and suitable for locating itself on the inner surface of said tyre. 31) Machine according to claim 1, wherein said rotation axis is substantially horizontal. 32) Machine according to claim 12, wherein said first actuator is of the type of an actuator by fluid means. 33) Machine according to claim 16, wherein said second actuator is of the type of an actuator by fluid means 